Manchester United welcome support of government for Old Trafford project
Manchester United welcome support of government for Old Trafford project
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Manchester United have welcomed the announcement of government support for the project to regenerate the area around Old Trafford, with the chief executive, Omar Berrada, describing it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. A Treasury statement on Saturday evening said the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, was championing the Old Trafford project as “a shining example” of the government’s plans to promote economic growth. A new venue – either redeveloping the current stadium to increase the capacity to 87,000 or building a new ground which could hold 100,000 fans – is at the heart of the regeneration project.
“The delivery of a world-class stadium can be the catalyst for major regeneration of an area of Greater Manchester which requires new investment to thrive again,” Berrada said in a statement published on the United website. “We cannot achieve that wider aim on our own, which is why we welcome the announcement by the chancellor and the ongoing support of the mayor of Greater Manchester [Andy Burnham] and Trafford council. If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of.”.
While United would take responsibility for the stadium development, support from public bodies would be needed to unlock the wider regeneration opportunity. This would include improved transport infrastructure and housing around Old Trafford. Burnham said: “The project around Old Trafford represents the biggest opportunity for urban regeneration this country has seen since London 2012 and is a key part of our 10-year plan to turbocharge growth across Greater Manchester.”.
